Foamlab, a Delft-based startup aiming to replace fossil-based plastics with high-performance foams built from bacterial cellulose, has raised €3 million in growth capital to build a pilot plant, scale production, and accelerate the commercial rollout of its biobased foam materials.
The round is led by ICOS Capital, with participation from Value Factory Ventures, DOEN Ventures, Capricorn Industrial Biotech Fund, and TTT Green Tech, managed by SHIFT Invest.
“We are very proud to bring toobtainher such a strong group of impact investors. We see growing demand for our bacterial nanocellulose foams across multiple industries. This funding enables us to scale production, serve early customers, and accelerate our path to market. Beyond capital, our investors bring hands-on support and valuable networks,” declared Jeroen van Rotterdam, CEO of Foamlab.
Founded in 2024 by Professor Elvin Karana, who is the Scientific Advisor, and Jeroen van Rotterdam, Foamlab leverages microorganisms to create bio-based foams that are lightweight, durable, and completely compostable. Its goal is to substitute traditional oil- and mineral-based foams in sectors like construction, furniture, fashion, and packaging.
Foamlab originated from research conducted by the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at Delft University of Technology. It develops a new class of sustainable foams built from bacterial cellulose, a natural and renewable material produced through fermentation.
Foamlab’s bacterial cellulose foams provide a sustainable alternative, as they are bio-based, compostable, and customisable. Ranging from soft, textile-like materials to rigid structural solutions, the company claims that they support high-performance utilizes with low environmental impact.
“What sets Foamlab apart is our control over structure at the nanoscale, built possible by microbial biofabrication,” the company mentioned. This allows it to fine-tune mechanical, acoustic, and aesthetic properties with precision, while maintaining biodegradability and low-impact production.
Peter van Gelderen, Managing Partner at ICOS Capital, declared, “We are very pleased to support Foamlab in their next, exciting scale-up phase. Their robust production technology for bacterial nanocellulose foam provides sustainable alternatives for fossil-based materials, for construction insulation, high-finish packaging, and fashion, thus addressing a major materials transition with a scalable and sustainable solution.”
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